Children's Home run by Bayleaf Care Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 1 Registered provider: Bayleaf Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation and was registered in December 2025. It provides care for up to 4 children who may have social and emotional difficulties, as well as special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2026. She is suitably experienced and is working towards a level 5 leadership and management qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, 2 children were living at the home. Both were present and spoken to by the inspector.

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This monitoring visit

The full inspection of this home started on 12 May 2026. An inspector returned on 9 June 2026 to gather additional evidence, in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy. The home was then judged ‘inadequate’.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, 2 compliance notices were issued, requiring the provider to address breaches under regulations 12 and 13. A restriction of accommodation notice was also imposed, preventing any more children from being accepted into the home. This restriction was due to stay in place until 1 September 2026.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 2 July 2026 to monitor what action leaders and managers had taken to comply with the steps outlined in the compliance notice under regulation 12. The inspectors found that this compliance notice had been met. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 2 The purpose of this latest visit was to monitor what action leaders and managers had taken to comply with the steps outlined in the compliance notice under regulation 13.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have now ensured that all staff have completed a programme of training to address the safeguarding shortfalls identified. Feedback from staff confirms they feel their knowledge and understanding have improved and this will have a positive impact on their practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are carrying out regular supervision and appraisals with staff. This includes face-to-face meetings with staff and observations of their practice. Shortfalls in practice are now quickly addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the previous inspection have been restated, as it has not yet been possible to fully assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the improvements made by leaders and managers.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have complied with the restriction of accommodation notice and have taken appropriate action to meet the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of action taken by leaders and managers to comply with the steps outlined in the compliance notices, the restriction of accommodation notice was reviewed, and has been lifted.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/05/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are professionally curious around children's known risks and take appropriate action to mitigate risks. 18 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 4 They must ensure that all staff have the relevant skills to understand children's needs and risks. They must act ensure they fulfil their role and responsibilities in safeguarding children.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that the home environment is safe for children. This includes taking action, understands children's risk and reviewing the environment to ensure their individual needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that they have robust systems for assessment in place when considering children coming to live in the home and if this is the right decision for all children and ensure that children's risks and needs can be supported against staff ability, skills and experience. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 18 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 5 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that effective and timely monitoring and oversight are carried out regarding the day-to-day care children receive, their safety and incidents. This should be used to identify concerns and take swift action to improve.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that staff and managers are equipped and skilled to use professional curiosity to better support and safeguard children.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that all staff receive regular practice related supervision and appraisals.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they have robust systems for assessment in place when considering children coming to live in the home. 18 September

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 6 The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bayleaf Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 Bankside, The Watermark, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 9SY

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Inspectors

Kate Savage, Social Care Inspector Sophie Coogan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2857068 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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